Ron Baker to the NBA?

[GoPanthers85]

I know this really has nothing to do with UNI but just saw the Baker has elected to stay in school and not enter the NBA draft. He is a good player but I have never thought of him as an NBA level player! He reminds me of a taller better version of Moran, makes a ton of hustle plays and is great for the team but not the NBA level. I may be wrong but every time I see him play he has never really wowed me, and I am trying to be objective but I just don't see him having any success in the pros. Just my two cents, let me know what you guys think.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10727511/ron-baker-return-wichita-state-enter-nba-draft

[orangetennis]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

I could see him making a team, but leaving college early for the draft, laughable!

[panther-state]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

The thing is that Baker has a very well rounded game. He does so many things well that I can easily see him as a serviceable but not outstanding PG at the next level. Honestly, what more could you want. After Early, he is easily the league's best prospect as thing stand right now. Nice range, can drive to the hoop, good awareness and can play defense. As an NBA team you'd be foolish to not at least take a look at that type of player.

MVCFans.com had this same conversation and the gereral consensus, from what I could tell, is that Baker won't have a prolific career like a Kyle Korver (a one trick pony in my opinion), but to discount him as a solid contributor for a number of teams would be as equally foolish.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

Too short, can't shoot well enough, doesn't have a position.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

Always reminds me of Adam Haluska...appearance and game.

[Kyle]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

A scout for the trailblazers came to the WSU game in the McLeod to watch him and Early.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

I don't know about being too short, he's 6'3". He's pretty darn good from outside and more athletic than he first appears going inside. Also has a VERY high basketball IQ. He'll probably get a look but I suspect one thing that will scare the NBA off first is that he has yet to play a complete college season and stay healthy.

As for the Trailblazers looking at him, they did draft Sam Bowie and Greg Oden ahead of Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant.

[UNIAlum2010]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

Posting this here since it probably doesn't need it's own thread. ESPN's Jeff Goodman twitter is reporting that Zeisloft, Keane and Lofton are all transferring from Illinois State.

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=GoodmanESPN&original_referer=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/

[panther-state]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

Posting this here since it probably doesn't need it's own thread. ESPN's Jeff Goodman twitter is reporting that Zeisloft, Keane and Lofton are all transferring from Illinois State.

https://twitter.com/intent/user?scre...ge-basketball/

Muller chasing off players to likely bring in more troublesome headcases. Nick Zeisloft is a great kid. Hopefully he saw where the program's integrity was headed and decided to jump ship on his own. Word is he's looking at an Ivy League program for graduate studies.

[BCPanther]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

Lofton is absolute scum.

Muller isn't going to be long for that job if he has 3 guys transferring every year. He's got 5 open scholarships right now...

[achrist70]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

[panther-state]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

I agree achrist but this fire is fueled by some pretty talented players, and will become even better when/if kids like Teddy Hawkins are ever declared eligible to play (it's been like 2 years right? Dear lord). It also going to continue to be that way when Muller makes it very clear that you can do whatever you want (have no academic integrity, assault women while out drinking, etc...) without any type of serious repercussions, if you're talented enough. He is turning ISUr into a near literal prison team. We used to say it jokingly...now...I don't even know.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

I don't know about being too short, he's 6'3". He's pretty darn good from outside and more athletic than he first appears going inside. Also has a VERY high basketball IQ. He'll probably get a look but I suspect one thing that will scare the NBA off first is that he has yet to play a complete college season and stay healthy.

As for the Trailblazers looking at him, they did draft Sam Bowie and Greg Oden ahead of Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant.

He certainly doesn't look 6'3 in person. I'd add a couple of inches to that. He also moves really well, has a relatively quick first step, can both shoot outside and drive, good rebounder, etc. Some aspects of his game are certainly ahead of Doug McD's at the same age. Remember, Baker just finished his sophomore year. McD was almost exclusively a post player his first couple of years, and had almost no dribble drive game. If Baker develops NBA three point range, then I'd think he's got a decent chance. Baker is also surrounded by more talented players than McD was, so it's not like he had to shoot 80 times for WSU to win games.

[SubGod22]

Re: Ron Baker to the NBA?

He certainly doesn't look 6'3 in person. I'd add a couple of inches to that. He also moves really well, has a relatively quick first step, can both shoot outside and drive, good rebounder, etc. Some aspects of his game are certainly ahead of Doug McD's at the same age. Remember, Baker just finished his sophomore year. McD was almost exclusively a post player his first couple of years, and had almost no dribble drive game. If Baker develops NBA three point range, then I'd think he's got a decent chance. Baker is also surrounded by more talented players than McD was, so it's not like he had to shoot 80 times for WSU to win games.

I agree with much of what you said, but as a Shocker fan, I may be biased. He already has the range I think and is more athletic than he looks. He showed the ability to get to the basket against Kentucky as well as shoot from deep. He handles the ball pretty well, but will probably need to work on tightening that up a little to play at the next level. But he does have two more years to get there. I'd also say that he's our best defender after Cotton.

As far as Illinios State goes, it's going to be interesting. Muller is taking a lot of chances and it'll be interesting to see if he'll be able to hold it together. Although 9 guys leaving in 2 years raises a lot of questions about what's going on.